Refrigerant charging method

Abstract

Efficiency in refrigerant charging work is addressed when a recovered refrigerant recovered from a first heat source unit is to be charged to a second heat source unit. A refrigerant charging method is a charging method used when a first heat source unit of an already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus in which a refrigeration cycle is to be performed by a refrigerant that circulates is to be replaced with a second heat source unit. The refrigerant charging method includes recovering a first refrigerant from an already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus and obtaining a recovered refrigerant and charging the recovered refrigerant and charging a second refrigerant whose composition differs from the composition of the recovered refrigerant to the refrigeration cycle apparatus after renewal that includes the second heat source unit.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A refrigerant charging method of recovering a refrigerant and charging the refrigerant to a second heat source unit, the refrigerant being included in a first heat source unit of an already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus in which a refrigeration cycle is to be performed by the refrigerant that circulates, the method comprising:
 recovering a first refrigerant from the already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus and obtaining a recovered refrigerant; and 
 charging the recovered refrigerant and further charging a second refrigerant whose composition differs from a composition of the recovered refrigerant to the refrigeration cycle apparatus that includes the second heat source unit. 
 
     
     
       2. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first refrigerant is an R410A refrigerant, and the second refrigerant is an R32 refrigerant. 
 
     
     
       3. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first refrigerant is an R410A refrigerant, and the second refrigerant is an R452B refrigerant. 
 
     
     
       4. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first refrigerant is an R410A refrigerant, and the second refrigerant is an R454B refrigerant. 
 
     
     
       5. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after packing a nitrogen gas in the second heat source unit, transporting the second heat source unit with the nitrogen gas packed in the second heat source unit to an installation location of the already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
 
     
     
       6. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after packing an R32 in a prescribed pressure range in the second heat source unit, transporting the second heat source unit with the R32 packed in the second heat source unit to an installation location of the already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
 
     
     
       7. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 when a recovered refrigerant and the second refrigerant are mixed together through charging to the refrigeration cycle apparatus including the second heat source unit and become a mixed refrigerant, judging whether the mixed refrigerant is non-flammable and/or judging whether the mixed refrigerant is flammable. 
 
     
     
       8. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 causing the second heat source unit to store a mixture ratio of the recovered refrigerant and the second refrigerant charged in the second heat source unit and/or causing the second heat source unit to display the mixture ratio. 
 
     
     
       9. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 after packing a nitrogen gas in the second heat source unit, transporting the second heat source unit with the nitrogen gas packed in the second heat source unit to an installation location of the already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
 
     
     
       10. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 after packing a nitrogen gas in the second heat source unit, transporting the second heat source unit with the nitrogen gas packed in the second heat source unit to an installation location of the already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
 
     
     
       11. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 after packing a nitrogen gas in the second heat source unit, transporting the second heat source unit with the nitrogen gas packed in the second heat source unit to an installation location of the already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
 
     
     
       12. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 after packing an R32 in a prescribed pressure range in the second heat source unit, transporting the second heat source unit with the R32 packed in the second heat source unit to an installation location of the already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
 
     
     
       13. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 after packing an R32 in a prescribed pressure range in the second heat source unit, transporting the second heat source unit with the R32 packed in the second heat source unit to an installation location of the already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
 
     
     
       14. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 after packing an R32 in a prescribed pressure range in the second heat source unit, transporting the second heat source unit with the R32 packed in the second heat source unit to an installation location of the already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
 
     
     
       15. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 when a recovered refrigerant and the second refrigerant are mixed together through charging to the refrigeration cycle apparatus including the second heat source unit and become a mixed refrigerant, judging whether the mixed refrigerant is non-flammable and/or judging whether the mixed refrigerant is flammable. 
 
     
     
       16. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 when a recovered refrigerant and the second refrigerant are mixed together through charging to the refrigeration cycle apparatus including the second heat source unit and become a mixed refrigerant, judging whether the mixed refrigerant is non-flammable and/or judging whether the mixed refrigerant is flammable. 
 
     
     
       17. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 when a recovered refrigerant and the second refrigerant are mixed together through charging to the refrigeration cycle apparatus including the second heat source unit and become a mixed refrigerant, judging whether the mixed refrigerant is non-flammable and/or judging whether the mixed refrigerant is flammable. 
 
     
     
       18. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 when a recovered refrigerant and the second refrigerant are mixed together through charging to the refrigeration cycle apparatus including the second heat source unit and become a mixed refrigerant, judging whether the mixed refrigerant is non-flammable and/or judging whether the mixed refrigerant is flammable. 
 
     
     
       19. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 when a recovered refrigerant and the second refrigerant are mixed together through charging to the refrigeration cycle apparatus including the second heat source unit and become a mixed refrigerant, judging whether the mixed refrigerant is non-flammable and/or judging whether the mixed refrigerant is flammable. 
 
     
     
       20. The refrigerant charging method according to  claim 2 , comprising:
 causing the second heat source unit to store a mixture ratio of the recovered refrigerant and the second refrigerant charged in the second heat source unit and/or causing the second heat source unit to display the mixture ratio.